Parents worry about teacher's criminal record (DOCUMENTS)

Published: Tuesday, September 24, 2013 at 05:08 PM.

SANTA ROSA BEACH — A former Okaloosa County math teacher who was charged with cocaine possession and driving under the influence last year now is teaching a few classes at South Walton High School.

Brittney A. Bowman was hired as an instructor at South Walton several weeks after classes started to help ease an unexpected enrollment surge in one of its math courses, according to Superintendent Carlene Anderson.

“Professional Practices has not removed her teaching certificate,” Anderson said of the hire. “ … She passed all the criteria to be employed.”

In addition to a valid teaching certificate, the 26-year-old Bowman passed a drug test and a background check by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Anderson said.

Several parents have questioned Bowman’s hiring in emails, but they could not be reached for comment Tuesday.

Anderson knows of the concerns, but said she has not received any telephone calls about the issue.

Following her arrest last December, Bowman pleaded no contest to DUI. She was sentenced to community service and placed on probation. There was a pre-trial diversion for the cocaine possession charge. If Bowman completes the supervised program and meets all the requirements for it, her cocaine charge will be dropped.

The Walton County School Board approved Bowman’s five-page contract at its meeting Sept. 3.

Under the agreement, Bowman will teach four Algebra II classes at South Walton for $23.61 an hour through May 24, 2014. She receives no insurance or other benefits.

“This agreement does not create any employer-employee relationship between the parties nor is the provider to be considered an agent or employee of the School Board for any purpose whatsoever,” the contract states.

Under the contract, Bowman doesn’t supervise any extracurricular activities and her work is monitored, Anderson said.

“We had to find her a mentor and the mentor applauds her teaching skills,” Anderson said.

The December 2012 incident wasn’t Bowman’s first run-in with the law.

The Florida Board of Education’s Office of Professional Practices does not confirm active investigations, but records show Bowman was denied her teaching certificate in September 2011 based on charges filed against her when she was 19 years old.

In June 2012 she was issued a certificate and a letter of reprimand was placed in her personnel file for lessening the “reputation of all who practice our profession” for her actions during an alleged burglary and confrontation with law officers.

“The Education Practices Commission sincerely hopes it is your intention to never allow this situation to occur ever again or indeed, violate any professional obligation fulfilling your responsibility as an educator,” said the letter, dated Jun 15, 2012.

“To violate the standards of the profession will surely result in further action being taken against you,” the letter said.

SANTA ROSA BEACH — A former Okaloosa County math teacher who was charged with cocaine possession and driving under the influence last year now is teaching a few classes at South Walton High School.

Brittney A. Bowman was hired as an instructor at South Walton several weeks after classes started to help ease an unexpected enrollment surge in one of its math courses, according to Superintendent Carlene Anderson.

“Professional Practices has not removed her teaching certificate,” Anderson said of the hire. “ … She passed all the criteria to be employed.”

In addition to a valid teaching certificate, the 26-year-old Bowman passed a drug test and a background check by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Anderson said.

Several parents have questioned Bowman’s hiring in emails, but they could not be reached for comment Tuesday.

Anderson knows of the concerns, but said she has not received any telephone calls about the issue.

Following her arrest last December, Bowman pleaded no contest to DUI. She was sentenced to community service and placed on probation. There was a pre-trial diversion for the cocaine possession charge. If Bowman completes the supervised program and meets all the requirements for it, her cocaine charge will be dropped.

The Walton County School Board approved Bowman’s five-page contract at its meeting Sept. 3.

Under the agreement, Bowman will teach four Algebra II classes at South Walton for $23.61 an hour through May 24, 2014. She receives no insurance or other benefits.

“This agreement does not create any employer-employee relationship between the parties nor is the provider to be considered an agent or employee of the School Board for any purpose whatsoever,” the contract states.

Under the contract, Bowman doesn’t supervise any extracurricular activities and her work is monitored, Anderson said.

“We had to find her a mentor and the mentor applauds her teaching skills,” Anderson said.

The December 2012 incident wasn’t Bowman’s first run-in with the law.

The Florida Board of Education’s Office of Professional Practices does not confirm active investigations, but records show Bowman was denied her teaching certificate in September 2011 based on charges filed against her when she was 19 years old.

In June 2012 she was issued a certificate and a letter of reprimand was placed in her personnel file for lessening the “reputation of all who practice our profession” for her actions during an alleged burglary and confrontation with law officers.

“The Education Practices Commission sincerely hopes it is your intention to never allow this situation to occur ever again or indeed, violate any professional obligation fulfilling your responsibility as an educator,” said the letter, dated Jun 15, 2012.

“To violate the standards of the profession will surely result in further action being taken against you,” the letter said.